US6842278B1 - Method for manufacturing image displaying medium - Google Patents
Method for manufacturing image displaying medium Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US6842278B1 US6842278B1 US09/619,606 US61960600A US6842278B1 US 6842278 B1 US6842278 B1 US 6842278B1 US 61960600 A US61960600 A US 61960600A US 6842278 B1 US6842278 B1 US 6842278B1
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- particles
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- colorant particles
- flat substrate
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G17/00—Electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns, e.g. an electric conductivity pattern; Processes involving a migration, e.g. photoelectrophoresis, photoelectrosolography; Processes involving a selective transfer, e.g. electrophoto-adhesive processes; Apparatus essentially involving a single such process
- G03G17/04—Electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns, e.g. an electric conductivity pattern; Processes involving a migration, e.g. photoelectrophoresis, photoelectrosolography; Processes involving a selective transfer, e.g. electrophoto-adhesive processes; Apparatus essentially involving a single such process using photoelectrophoresis
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- G—PHYSICS
- G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
- G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
- G03G17/00—Electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns, e.g. an electric conductivity pattern; Processes involving a migration, e.g. photoelectrophoresis, photoelectrosolography; Processes involving a selective transfer, e.g. electrophoto-adhesive processes; Apparatus essentially involving a single such process
- G03G17/04—Electrographic processes using patterns other than charge patterns, e.g. an electric conductivity pattern; Processes involving a migration, e.g. photoelectrophoresis, photoelectrosolography; Processes involving a selective transfer, e.g. electrophoto-adhesive processes; Apparatus essentially involving a single such process using photoelectrophoresis
- G03G17/06—Apparatus therefor
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method for manufacturing an image displaying medium, and in particular, it relates to a method for manufacturing an image displaying medium that can display an image repeatedly.
- the electronic paper technique has been known in that a desired image is displayed on a display substrate by utilizing an electronic action.
- the electronic paper technique includes, as roughly classified, two constitutions, one of which has such a structure that a liquid display element or a displaying liquid of a display element dispersed in a liquid is filled between substrates that face each other, such as those utilizing electrophoresis, thermal rewritable, liquid crystal and electrochromy, and the other of which has such a structure that a display element having a powder form is filled between substrates that face each other, such as a structure shown in, FIG. 20 , in which a conductive colored toner 96 and white particles 98 are filtered between two display substrates 90 a and 90 b , each of which is formed by accumulating a matrix electrode 92 and a charge transporting layer 94 .
- a method for manufacturing electronic paper of the former technique in which a liquid display element or a display liquid of a display element dispersed in a liquid is filled between facing substrates has been known.
- a liquid crystal display is manufactured by sucking a gap between the substrates to fill the liquid display element or the display liquid of a display element dispersed in a liquid.
- a manufacturing method for electronic paper of the latter technique in which a display element in a powder form, such as a toner, is filled between the facing substrates, has not yet been known. It is considered that the electronic paper of this type can be manufactured by sucking a gap between the substrates to fill the powder dispersed in a dispersion medium between the substrates, and then the dispersion medium is evaporated. However, it is difficult to completely evaporate the dispersion medium filled between the substrates, and thus the method cannot be practically conducted.
- the invention provides a method for manufacturing an image displaying medium in that a display element in a powder form can be uniformly filled between substrates facing each other.
- the invention relates to, as a first aspect, a method for manufacturing an image displaying medium containing the steps of: providing plural colorant particles on at least one of a first flat substrate and a side of a second substrate, on which plural spacers a provided to maintain a constant distance to the first substrate upon superimposing on the first substrate; and fixing the first substrate and the plural spacers on the second substrate to arrange the colorant particles between the first substrate ad the second substrate.
- the first substrate and the spacers of the second substrate are fixed to uniformly fill the colorant particles between the facing substrates.
- the colorant particles having one kind of characteristics are adhered on the first substrate, and the colorant particles having the other kind of characteristics are adhered on the spacer side of the second substrate.
- the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate is maintained at a constant distance. Furthermore, because the colorant particles are maintained on at least one of the substrates, there is no possibility of causing problems, for example, in that the amounts of the colorant particles filled between the first substrate and the second substrate are different per the regions, for example, to cause a region having no coloring agent particle filled therein, and thus the colorant particles can be uniformly filled in all the regions.
- the following method can be employed.
- methods utilizing an electrostatic recording method in which the colorant particles are charged, and the charged colorant particles are directly provided on the substrate having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, or in alternative, the charged colorant particles arm provided on an intermediate transfer material having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, and the charge colorant particles are transmitted from the intermediate transfer material to the substrate.
- the colorant particles can be coated to a desired pattern by utilizing an electrophotographic method, a method using a multi-stylus electrode, a liquid development method and an electrostatic coating method as the electrostatic recording methods
- a method of simply supplying the colorant particles to the substrate to be held thereon can also be employed as another method.
- the method of the type includes a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a gap coating method and a bar coating method, and a coloring agent particle layer can be coated on the substrate by using the methods.
- colorant particles having a magnetic material therein are directly provided on a substrate having a magnetic pattern formed on the surface thereof, or in alternative, the colorant particles are provided on an intermediate transfer material having a magnetic pattern formed on the surface thereof, and then the colorant particles are transferred from the intermediate transfer material to the substrate to be held thereon.
- the colorant particles can be coated to a desired pattern utilizing a magnetography method as the magnetic recording method.
- the colorant particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium and adhered on the surface of the substrate, and the dispersion medium is evaporated, whereby only the colorant particles remain on the substrate to be provided thereon.
- the colorant particles can be coated on the substrate by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a gap coating method or a bar coating method or by using a liquid spraying device, such as an ink jet device, and then it is dried to evaporate the dispersion medium, so as to uniformly coat a coloring agent particle layer on the substrate.
- the colorant particles on the substrate is uniformized by vibrating the substrate, so as to be held on the substrate.
- the colorant particles are uniformly smoothened by vibrating the substrate to form a layer, whereby a uniform coloring agent particle layer can be coated on the substrate.
- the method where vibration is applied is also useful in the screen printing method, the blade coating method, the roller coating method, the spray coating method, the gap coating method, the bar coating method and the particle sedimentation method.
- the colorant particles are coated on the substrate having a volatile liquid coated in a desired pattern, so as to provide the colorant particles on the substrate in the desired pattern.
- the colorant particles are supplied, by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, or a particle sedimentation method, to the substrate having a volatile liquid coated in a desired pattern, so as to adhere the colorant particles, and then excess particles on the area other than the pattern are blown away by air, followed by evaporating the volatile liquid, whereby the coloring agent particle layer can be coated on the substrate in a desired pattern.
- a mask having an opening having a desired pattern is placed on the substrate, and after supplying the particles, the mask is removed to provide the particles on the substrate in the desired pattern.
- the particles are supplied by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a gap coating method, a bar coating method or a particle sedimentation method, to the substrate, on which the mask having an opening with a desired pattern is placed, and then the mask is removed, whereby the coloring agent particle layer can be coated on the substrate in a desired pattern.
- the spacers of the second substrate can be formed by cutting the surface of the flat substrate by a cutting tool or laser, or in alternative, by patterning utilizing a sand blast process or a lithography technique.
- a spacer base material is injected in a mold having a mold surface in the spacer pattern formed thereon, followed by solidifying, or the second substrate is formed by hot press, whereby the second substrate having the spacers.
- a mold having a desired pattern is previously formed by a microfabrication technique such as discharge working, and an action curing resin, such as an ultraviolet ray curing resin, a visible ray curing resin and an electron beam curing resin, is cured by an ultraviolet ray, a visible ray or an electron beam, or in alternative, a thermoplastic resin is formed by hot press, followed by cooling to be cured, whereby the spacers can be formed into a fine pattern by a manufacturing method suitable for mass manufacturing, so as to realize high resolution of the displayed image.
- the spacers of the second substrate can be formed by fixing the spacers arranged on the flat substrate.
- the spacer particles are dispersed in an adhesive dispersion medium to form a dispersion fluid, and the dispersion fluid is sprayed by a liquid spraying device, such as an ink jet device, on the flat substrate, so as to fix the spacer particles on the substrate by the adhesive force of the dispersion medium to form the spaces.
- a liquid spraying device such as an ink jet device
- the spacer particles art dispersed in a volatile dispersion medium and supplied to the flat substrate having a fixing layer formed thereon, and then the dispersion medium is evaporated to fix the spaces by the fixing force of the fixing layer.
- the fixing layer is an adhesive layer formed of an adhesive material, a thermoplastic resin layer that is plasticized by heating, or an action curing resin.
- the action curing resin include an ultraviolet ray curing resin that is cured by an ultraviolet ray, a visible ray curing resin that is cured by a visible ray, and an electron beam curing resin that is cured by an electron beam.
- the fixing layer is formed of a thermoplastic resin
- the dispersion medium is evaporated, and then the thermoplastic resin is plasticized by heating, followed by cooling, so as to fix the spacer particles on the second substrate.
- the substrate having the spacers can be manufactured by a simple process at a low cost.
- the fixing layer formed on the substrate is formed of an action curing resin
- the dispersion medium is evaporated, and then the resin is cured by a visible ray, an ultraviolet ray, heat or an electron beam, so as to fix the spacer particles on the second substrate.
- spacers can be formed by the following manner. Spacer particle having a fixing layer formed on the surface thereof, or spacer particles formed of a thermoplastic resin or an action curing resin are supplied to a flat substrate, and the spacers can be fixed by the fixing force of the fixing layer formed on the surface of the spacer particles. As the fixing layer on the spacer particles, those for the substrate can also be applied.
- the spacer particles are charged, and the charged spacer particles are directly provided on the substrate having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, or in alternative, the charged spacer particles are provided on an intermediate transfer material having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, and then the charged spacer particles are transferred from the intermediate transfer material to the substrate.
- the spacer particles can be coated in a desired pattern by using an electrophotographic method, a method using a multistylus electrode, a liquid development method or an electrostatic coating method, as the electrostatic recording method.
- the fixing layer is a layer of a thermoplastic resin, which is plasticized by heating.
- the spacer particles can be fixed on the second particles by plasticizing the fixing layer by heating, and then cooling. According to the method, the substrate having the spacer can be manufactured by a simple process at a low cost.
- the spacer particles are directly provided on the substrate having a magnetic pattern formed on the surface thereof, or in alternative, the spacer particles arm provided on an intermediate transfer material having a magnetic pattern formed on the surface thereof, and the spacer particles are transferred from the in intermediate transfer material to the substrate.
- a magnetic material or an electromagnet having an arbitrary pattern formed therein is arranged on the back surface of the substrate, and after providing the spacer particles on the surface, the magnetic material is removed or the electromagnet is turned off.
- the spacer particles can be coated in a desired pattern by using a magnetography method as the magnetic recording method, and the spacer particles can be fixed on the substrate by the fig fore of the fix layer formed on the surface of the spacer particles.
- the fixing layer on the spacer particles those for the substrate can also be applied.
- the spacer particles are dispersed in a dispersion medium and adhered on the surface of the substrate, and the dispersion medium is evaporated, whereby only the spacer particles remain on the substrate to be provided thereon.
- the spacer particles can be coated on the substrate by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a gap coating method or a bar coating method or by using a liquid spraying device, such as an ink jet device, and then the spacer particles can be fixed on the substrate by the fixing force of the fixing layer formed on the surface of the spacer particles.
- the fixing layer on the spacer particles those for the substrate can also be applied.
- the spacer particles are coated on the substrate having a volatile liquid coated in a desired pattern, so as to provide the spacer particles on the substrate in the desired pattern.
- the spacer particles are supplied and adhered, by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method or a particle sedimentation method, to the substrate having a volatile liquid coated in a desired pattern, so as to adhere the spacer particles, and then excess particles on the area other than the pattern are blown away, followed by evaporating the volatile liquid, whereby the spacer particle can be coated on the substrate in a desired pattern, and can be fixed on the substrate by the fixing force of the fixing layer formed on the surface of the spacer particles.
- the fixing layer on the spacer particles those for the substrate can also be applied.
- a mask having an opening having a desired pattern is placed on the substrate, and after supplying the spacer particles, the mask is removed to provide the particles on the substrate in the desired pattern.
- the particles are supplied, by a screen printing method, a blade coating method, a roller coating method, a spray coating method, a gap coating method, a bar coating method or a particle sedimentation method, to the substrate, on which the mask is placed, and then the mask is removed, whereby the spacer particles can be coated on the substrate, on which the mask having a desired pattern is placed, and can be fixed on the substrate by the fixing force of the fixing layer formed on the surface of the spacer particles.
- the fixing layer on the spacer particles those for the substrate can also be applied.
- the spacers may be formed by subjecting a film formed of a thermoplastic resin to beat transfer using a thermal head or by applying an action to a film formed of an action curing resin.
- a desired pattern can be formed by working the substrate by hot press, and thus the spacers can be manufactured by a manufacturing method suitable for mass manufacturing.
- a resin having the spacer particles kneaded therein can be used as the thermoplastic resin.
- a bar member having a thermoplastic resin layer on the surface thereof or a bar member formed of a thermoplastic resin is arranged on the flat substrate and formed by curing with heat, or in alternative, a bar member having a layer of an action curing resin or a bar member formed of an action curing resin is arranged on the flat substrate and formed by action curing. Furthermore, plural bar members may be used as they cross each other. As the thermoplastic resin and the action curing resin, those described in the foregoing can also be applied.
- a film formed by kneading the spacer particles in a polymer resin film to form unevenness on the surface thereof may be used.
- adhesion with the first substrate can be conducted by filling particles in the concave parts, and coating a thermoplastic resin or an action curing resin on the convex parts.
- the spacers maintain the distance between the first substrate and the second substrate and preferably has a lattice configuration or a inch-like configuration.
- a large number of cells are formed by dividing with the spacer between the first substrate and the second substrate, and thus the colorant particles can be prevented from building up at a part of the displaying medium upon actuating the display medium. It is also preferred that the color of the colorant particles is changed to realize multi-color display.
- the member having a lattice configuration or a mesh-like configuration can be manufactured by opening holes in a metallic sheet, such as stainless steel, or a resin film, such as polyimide, by etching or laser working, by deposition forming of a metal, such as nickel using an electrocasting method, or in alternative, by knitting a metallic wire, such as stainless steel, or a resin, such as nylon, into a mesh-like configuration.
- the member may be coated with an insulating material, such as a resin, or with a thermoplastic resin for attaining an adhesive property.
- the colorant particles are provided on the second substrate, the colorant particles are adhered on the entire surface of the second substrate including the upper surface of the spacers provided on the second substrate.
- the first substrate is fixed on the upper surface of the spacers, there is a possibility that the colorant particles attached on the upper surface of the spacers are fixed along with the first substrate.
- the image quality can be improved by using the side of the second substrate as the display surface. Furthermore, by removing the colorant particles attached on the upper surface of the spacers, the adhesive property between the first substrate and the spacers can be improved, and even when the side of the first substrate is used as the display surface or the side of the second substrate is used as the display surface, the image quality is not deteriorated and an image can always be formed in good conditions.
- a blade in contact only with the upper surface of the spacer is moved with respect to the second substrate, so as to remove the colorant particles attached on the upper surface of the spacers.
- the amount of the colorant particles attached on the upper surface of the spacers is constant, by moving the blade with respect to the second substrate in one direction, the colorant particles removed from one spacer fall in one region divided by the spacer, and therefore the constant amount of the colorant particles is filled in the regions.
- the colorant particles can be positively filled uniformly in the cell structure or the concave parts formed by the spacers.
- a member having a mesh-like configuration is adhered on the second substrate as the spacer, and after coating the colorant particles, they are smoothened with a blade, whereby the colorant particles can be filled uniformly in the concave parts formed on the second substrate by the member having a mesh-like configuration.
- the degree of elasticity of the blade By changing the degree of elasticity of the blade, the follow-up property of the blade with respect to the mesh part can be controlled.
- the angle forming the blade and the mesh part and the force applied to the blade on the mesh part the amount of the filled colorant particles can be finely controlled.
- the excess colorant particles attached on the convex parts of the member having a mesh-like configuration can be removed.
- the invention also relates to, as a third aspect, a method for manufacturing an image displaying medium containing the steps of: providing plural colorant particles on one or both of a first flat substrate and a second flat substrate, to provide a spacer member on one of the first substrate and the second substrate; and arranging the colorant particles and the spacer member between the first substrate and the second flat substrate by fixing the spacer member, the first substrate and the second substrate.
- the colorant particles are uniformly filled between the facing two substrates, and it is not necessary to provide the spacer on the substrate by another step to simplify the process by the following manners.
- the plural colorant particles and the spacer member are provided on the first substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed.
- the plural colorant particles are provided on the first substrate, the spacer member is provided on the second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed.
- At least one kind of colorant particles and the spacer member are provided on the first substrate, the balance of the colorant particles are retained on the second substrate, and, the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed.
- At least one kind of colorant particles are provided on the first substrate, the balance of the colorant particles and the spacer member are retained on the second substrate, and the first substrate and the second substrate are fixed.
- the plural colorant particles and the spacer member are transferred to an intermediate transfer material, and then transferred from the intermediate transfer material to the first substrate to be provided thereon.
- the method of directly providing the charged colorant particles and the charged spacer member in a particle form (hereinafter referred to as spacer particles) on the substrate having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, and the method of providing the charged colorant particles and the spacer particles on the intermediate transfer material having an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface thereof, and the charged colorant particles and the spacer particles are transferred from the intermediate transfer material to the substrate to be provided thereon can be employed.
- the colorant particles and the spacer particles may be those described for the first aspect.
- the colorant particles and the spacer particles may be those described for the first aspect.
- the method contains the steps of: under conditions where one of a first flat substrate and a second flat substrate is masked, providing plural colorant particles on one or both of the first flat substrate and the second flat substrate; after removing the mask, providing a spacer member on one of the first substrate and the second substrate; and arranging the colorant particles and the spacer member between the first substrate and the second flat substrate by fixing the spacer member, the first substrate and the second substrate.
- the plurality colorant particles are provided on one or both of the first flat substrate and the second flat substrate.
- the mask is removed, and the spacer member is provided on one of the first substrate and the second substrate. Thereafter, the spacer member, the first substrate and the second substrate arm fixed to arrange the colorant particles and the spacer member between the first substrate and the second flat substrate.
- the colorant particles By providing the colorant particles under the conditions where the substrate is masked, the colorant particles can be provided only on the necessary part.
- the method for providing the colorant particles those described for the first aspect can be employed.
- the spacer member may be a member having a mesh-like configuration. According to these aspects, a cell structure can be conveniently formed.
- the spacer member or an adhesive for adhering the spacer member may be an elastic material. According to these aspects, even when stress is applied to the first substrate and the second substrate in the vertical direction or in the horizontal direction, the substrates are difficult to be peeled off each other because the spacer member or the adhesive for adhering the spacer member expands and contracts.
- the spacer member may be formed of a resin.
- a resin is coated on the entire surface of the first substrate or the second substrate, followed by curing with beat, and then the resin is embossed by a mold having an uneven shape, whereby the resin functions as the spacer.
- the method contains the steps of: providing plural colorant particles on one or both of a first flat substrate and a second flat substrate, which have such shapes that the first substrate and the second substrate are mated each other, and mating the first substrate and the second flat substrate to fix the first substrate and the second substrate.
- the first substrate and the second substrate have the prescribed uneven shapes. Therefore, the first substrate and the second substrate can hold the colorant particles in concave parts thereof.
- the first substrate and the second substrate have such shapes that the first substrate and the second substrate are mated each other. Therefore, the convex parts can fiction as the spacer member, and the first substrate and the second substrate can be fixed without adhesion.
- the image displaying medium can be manufactured by a simple process.
- an alternating current may be applied from electrodes arranged above and under the substrate, so as to flow the colorant particles, whereby the interior of the cells is uniformly coated.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the first embodiment of the invention
- FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the spacer particle
- FIG. 3A is a diagram showing the state where the black particles are adhered
- FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the state where the white particles are further adhered
- FIG. 3C is a diagram showing the state where the black particles and the white particles adhered on the upper surface of the spacer are removed
- FIG. 3D is a cross sectional view showing the schematic structure of the resulting image display medium
- FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram showing one embodiment of the magnetic recording device
- FIG. 5 a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the second embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the third embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the fourth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the fifth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the sixth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the seventh embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the eighth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 12 is a diagram showing a method for forming a flat substrate having spacers
- FIG. 13 is a diagram showing another method for forming a flat substrate having spacers
- FIG. 14 is a diagram showing a method for forming a flat substrate having spacers by using a liquid spraying device
- FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another method for forming a flat substrate having spacers by using a liquid spraying device
- FIGS. 16A and 16B are diagrams showing a method for forming a flat substrate having spacers by using a thermal head
- FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another method for forming a flat substrate having spacers
- FIGS. 18A and 18B are diagrams showing a further method for forming a flat substrate having spacers
- FIG. 19 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the ninth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 20 is a cross sectional view showing the structure of conventional electronic paper
- FIG. 21 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the tenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 22 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an image displaying medium relating to the tenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 23A to 23 D are schematic cross sectional views showing an image displaying medium relating to the eleventh embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the twelfth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 25 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an image displaying medium relating to the twelfth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 26 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the thirteenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 27 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the fourteenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 28 is a diagram showing a manufacturing line of the fifteenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 29 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an image displaying medium relating to the fifteenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIG. 30 is a schematic cross sectional view showing an image displaying medium relating to the sixteenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 31A and 31B are schematic cross sectional views showing an image displaying medium relating to the seventeenth embodiment of the invention.
- FIGS. 32A and 32B are schematic cross sectional views showing another image displaying medium relating to the seventeenth embodiment of the invention.
- image displaying media an manufactured by the method for manufacturing an image displaying medium of the invention, i.e., a displaying medium having plural cells, in which two kinds of particles having different colors and characteristics, such as conductive black particles and insulating white particles, are filled; a displaying medium having plural cells, in which conductive white particles and insulating black particles are filled; a displaying medium having plural cells, in which insulating black particles and insulating white particles are filled; and a displaying medium having plural cells, in which plural kinds of colorant particles are filled.
- first electrostatic coating device 10 by using a manufacturing line having, as roughly classified, a first electrostatic coating device 10 , a second electrostatic coating device 12 , a third electrostatic coating device 14 , a first fixing device 16 , a blade 18 , a second fixing device 20 , a first roller shaft 22 and a second roller shaft 24 , spacer particles 60 and the particles of two colors are electrostatically coated on a first flat substrate 50 a by an electrophotographic method, and a second flat substrate 52 a is adhered thereto.
- a first film roller 50 and a second film roller 52 are formed, for example, with PET (polyethylene terephthalate) and each is a flat substrate having a thickness of 50 ⁇ m wound into a roll form.
- the first film roller 50 is set on the first roller shaft 22
- the second film roller 52 is set on the second roller shaft 24 , from which ends of the substrates are withdrawn and the substrates are supplied.
- the first electrostatic coating device 10 , the first fixing device 16 , the second electrostatic coating device 12 , the third electrostatic coating device 14 and the blade 18 are arranged in this order from the side of the first roller shaft 22 , and the first flat substrate supplied from the first film roller 50 passes through the first electrostatic coating device 10 , the first fixing device 16 , the second electrostatic coating device 12 , the third electrostatic coating device 14 and the blade 18 in this order, and then superimposed on the second flat substrate supplied firm the second film roller 52 , followed by fixing by the second fixing device 20 .
- the first electrostatic coating device 10 is for electrostatically providing spacer particles 60 on the first flat substrate 50 a and has a structure containing a photoreceptor drum 31 having around it in this order a charger 30 for uniformly charging the photoreceptor drum 31 , an optical writing device 32 for forming an electrostatic latent image having a lattice configuration on the photoreceptor drum 31 , a developing device 34 for charging the spacer particles 60 to supply them to the photoreceptor drum 31 , a corotron 36 for transferring the spacer particles 60 attached on the photoreceptor drum 31 to the first flat substrate 50 a by applying an electric field, and a cleaner 37 for removing the spacer particles remaining on the surface of the photoreceptor drum 31 .
- the spacer particles 60 each is a particle having a structure shown in FIG. 2 , in which a thermoplastic resin layer 56 having a thickness of 10 ⁇ m is formed on the surface of a insulating particle 54 having an average particle diameter of 100 ⁇ m formed of a crosslinked copolymer containing divinylbenzene as a main component.
- an electrostatic latent image of a lattice configuration having a lattice unit of 500 ⁇ m ⁇ 500 ⁇ m is formed by the optical writing device 32 on the photoreceptor drum 31 uniformly charged by the charger 30 , and the charged spacer particles 60 are supplied from the developing device 34 to arrange in the lattice configuration by adhering on the electrostatic latent image of the lattice configuration.
- an electric field is applied to continuously transfer to the first flat substrate 50 a transported between the photoreceptor drum 31 and the corotron 36 .
- the first fixing device 16 On the downstream side of the photoreceptor drum 31 , the first fixing device 16 is provided.
- the first fixing device 16 heats the first flat substrate 50 a , on which the spacer particles 60 have been transferred.
- the thermoplastic resin layer 56 on the surface of the spacer particles 60 adhered on the surface of the first flat substrate 50 a is fused, and a part thereof migrates to a gap between the insulating particles 54 and the first flat substrate 50 a.
- the first flat substrate 50 a After passing through the first fixing device 16 , the first flat substrate 50 a is cooled in the air to fix the thermoplastic resin layer 56 and the first flat substrate 50 a , and the spacer particles 60 are fixed on the first flat substrate 50 a .
- the first flat substrate 50 a becomes a substrate having convex spaces for maintaining the constant distance to the second flat substrate 52 a.
- the second electrostatic coating device 12 After the first fixing device 16 , the second electrostatic coating device 12 is provided.
- the second electrostatic coating device 12 has the same constitution as the first electrostatic coating device 10 , and the description thereof is omitted but the same symbols are attached.
- conductive black panicles 62 such as conductive black particles having a true spherical shape formed of amorphous carbon having an average particle diameter of 20 ⁇ m and a resistivity of about 10 ⁇ 2 ⁇ cm, are filled, and the conductive black particles 62 are charged and supplied to a photoreceptor drum 31 .
- the conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape formed of amorphous carbon are obtained through carbonization by baking a thermosetting phenol resin.
- An optical writing device 32 of the second electrostatic coating device 12 cues the entire surface by a charger 30 . Therefore, the charged conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape supplied from the developing device 34 are uniformly attached on the entire surface of the photoreceptor drum 31 , and are continuously transferred by the electric field applied on passing on the corotron 36 to the first flat substrate 50 a trans between the photoreceptor drum 31 and a corotron 36 .
- the conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape are attached on the entire surface including the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 as shown in FIG. 3 A.
- the third electrostatic coating device 14 has the same constitution as the first electrostatic coating device 10 , and the description thereof is omitted but the same symbols are attached.
- insulating white particles 64 such as particles having a true spherical shape formed of divinylbenzene as a main component having an average particle diameter of about 20 ⁇ m are filled, and the insulating white particles 64 are charged and supplied to a photoreceptor drum 31 .
- An optical writing device 32 of the third electrostatic coating device 14 charges in the same manner as in the optical writing device 32 of the second electrostatic coating device 12 .
- the charged insulating white particles 64 supplied fan the developing device 34 are uniformly attached on the entire surface of the photoreceptor drum 31 , and are continuously transferred by the electric field applied on passing on the corotron 36 to the first flat substrate 50 a transported between the photo or drum 31 and a corotron 36 .
- the insulating white particles 64 is attached in the form of layer on the layer of the conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape attached on the entire surface including the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 as shown in FIG. 3 B.
- the blade 18 After the third electrostatic coating device 14 , the blade 18 is provided, and the blade device removes the conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape and the insulating white particles 64 attached on the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 by contacting the blade on the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 . Accordingly, the conductive black particles 62 having a true spherical shape and the insulating white particles 64 are arranged in the region divided by the spacer particles 60 as shown in FIG. 3 C.
- the first flat substrate 50 a passing through the blade 18 is superimposed on the second flat substrate 52 a supplied from the second film roller 52 , and then heated by the second fixing device 20 .
- the thermoplastic resin layer 56 of the spacer particles 60 is fused.
- the thermoplastic resin layer 56 on the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 is fixed on the second flat substrate 52 a , and the upper surface part of the spacer particles 60 and the second flat substrate 52 a are fixed.
- an image displaying medium having the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a facing each other having the colorant particles in a powder form uniformly filled therebetween can be manufactured as shown in FIG. 3 D.
- a film having a two-layer so in which an electrode layer having a thickness of about 50 ⁇ m is formed on a film made with a charge transporting material can be used.
- the colorant particles are attached corresponding to the image data on the film made with the charge transporting material by applying an electric field from a hole transporting film, so as to display the image.
- a combination of a flat substrate containing a glass substrate having plural ITO pixel electrodes and a flat substrate containing a glass substrate having an ITO electrode on the whole surface thereof can be used.
- a substrate having a charge transporting layer made with a charge transporting material formed on the surface of the ITO electrode is used.
- the black particles are attached corresponding to the image data by applying an electric field from the side of the flat substrate having the plural ITO pixel electrodes, so as to display the image.
- hole transporting films formed by the following manner can be employed.
- About 40% by weight of N-methylcarbazolediphenylhydrazone as a hole transporting material is added to a polyethylene resin and uniformly dispersed therein, which is formed in to a film having a thickness of about 50 ⁇ m, or in alternative,
- About 40% by weight of ⁇ , ⁇ -bis(methoxyphenyl)vinyldiphenylhydrazone as a hole transporting material is added to a polyethylene resin and uniformly dispersed there which is formed in to a film having a thickness of about 50 ⁇ m.
- the spacer particles 60 used are insulating particles 54 having the thermoplastic resin layer 56 formed on the surface thereof.
- the thermoplastic is softened by heating to fix the spacer particles.
- the spacer particles 60 having the thermoplastic resin layer formed on the surface thereof such a constitution is employed that the spacer particles are heated in the first fixing device 16 and the second fixing device 20 , so as to fix the spacer particles 60 to the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a.
- the first electrostatic coating device 10 other devices for forming an electrostatic latent image, such as a pin electrode and an ion flow device, can be used instead of the optical writing device 32 .
- the spacer particles 60 are magnetic particles
- the spacer particles 60 can be arranged in a lattice configuration on the first flat substrate 50 a by a magnetic recording medium.
- a magnetic recording device such as magnetography
- the magnetic recording device for example, has a constitution shown in FIG.
- the magnetic recording device is the same as the first electrostatic coating device 10 except that magnetism is utilized, and thus detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the second embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment.
- a first electrostatic coating device 10 between a first roller shaft 22 and a second roller shaft 24 , a first electrostatic coating device 10 , a first fixing device 16 , a second electrostatic coating device 12 and a blade 18 are arranged from the side of the first roller shaft 22 .
- black particles 62 are attached on the entire surface by the second conductive coating device 12 , and the black particles 62 attached on the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 is removed by the blade 18 , followed by further transporting.
- a third electrostatic coating device 14 is provided on the side of a second flat substrate 52 a supplied from a second film roller 52 , white particles 64 are attached on the second flat substrate 52 a by the third electrostatic coating device 14 .
- the first flat substrate 50 a having the black particles 62 attached on the surface thereof and the second flat substrate 52 a having the white particles 64 attached are superimposed on each other, so as to arrange the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 between the substrates, and they are heated by the second fixing device 20 , whereby the upper surface part of the spacer particles 60 and the second flat substrate 52 a art fixed.
- an image displaying medium containing the colorant particles in a powder form uniformly filed between the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a facing each other. According to the process, even in the case where the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 each are charged in the opposite polarity, they can be filled between the substrate without any problem. In the process, the white particles 64 are fixed in the condition where they arm sandwiched between the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 and the second flat substrate 52 a , but the particles are hidden particles causing substantially no problem.
- the other constitutional components of the second embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the third embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment.
- a first electrostatic coating device 10 on an intermediate transfer material 26 in a endless belt form rotating on a pair of rotating rollers 28 , a first electrostatic coating device 10 , a second electrostatic coating device 12 and the third electrostatic coating device 14 are arranged in this order.
- Spacer particles 60 , black particles 62 and white particles 64 are transferred to the intermediate transfer material, and the spacer particles 60 , the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 are transferred at a tine from the intermediate transfer material to a first flat substrate 50 a by a corotron 39 .
- the first flat substrate 50 a is superimposed on a second flat substrate 52 a , and a thermoplastic resin layer 56 on the surface of the space particles 60 between the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a is fused to fix the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a through the spacer particles 60 at a time.
- the only one fixing step is applied, and thus it is advantageous that the manufacturing method becomes simple.
- the other constitutional components of the third embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the fourth embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment.
- black particles 62 dispersed in a dispersion medium and white particles 64 dispersed in a dispersion medium each are sprayed on a first flat substrate 50 a by spray coating devices 13 instead of the second electrostatic coating device 12 and the third electrostatic coating device 14 , and then the dispersion media are dried by a drying device 15 , so as to uniformly provide the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 on the first flat substrate 50 a.
- a solvent having high volatility such as an alcohol solution, e.g., an aqueous solution of isopropyl alcohol, can be used.
- This method can also be applied to the second embodiment and the third embodiment.
- the method is advantageous since a uniform panicle layer can be conveniently formed on the substrate.
- the fifth embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment.
- black particles 62 and white particles 64 each are dispersed on a first flat substrate 50 a by powder dispersion devices 17 instead of the second electrostatic coating device 12 and the third electrostatic coating device 14 , and then vibration is applied to the first flat substrate 50 a by a vibrating device 19 , so as to uniformly provide the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 on the first flat substrate 50 a .
- This method can also be applied to the second edit and the third embodiment.
- the method is advantageous since a uniform particle layer can be conveniently formed on the substrate.
- the other constitutional component of the fifth embodiment are the same as in the first embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the sixth embodiment is a modified example of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 9 , a screen printing device 21 and a heating device 23 are provided instead of the first electrostatic coating device 10 .
- the screen printing device 21 prints, for example, a thermosetting epoxy resin having insulating spacer particles having an average particle diameter of 100 ⁇ m dispersed therein on a first flat substrate 50 a , for example, in a lattice configuration of a lattice unit of 500 ⁇ m ⁇ 500 ⁇ m.
- the heating device 23 is provided, which heats the thermosetting epoxy resin of the spacer particles printed on the surface of the substrate in the lattice configuration, so as to cure the thermosetting epoxy resin. Accordingly, the first flat substrate 50 a becomes a substrate having a convex spacer for maintaining the constant distance to a second flat substrate 52 a.
- thermosetting resin coating device 46 is provided on the second flat substrate 52 a supplied from a second film roller 52 , and a thermosetting resin is coated on the side of the second flat substrate 52 a , on which the first flat substrate 50 a is superimposed, to a thickness of about 10 ⁇ m by the thermosetting resin coating device 46 .
- thermosetting resin coated on the second flat substrate 52 a is cured, so as to fix the upper surface of the spacer particles 60 provided on the side of the first flat substrate 50 a and the second fiat substrate 52 a.
- spacer particles that can be used in the screen printing device 21
- insulating particles 54 formed of a crosslinked copolymer containing, as a main component, divinylbenzene having an average particle diameter of 100 ⁇ m can be used.
- the thermosetting epoxy resin is used as the dispersion medium of the spacer particles, it is not limited thereto, and other thermosetting resins and the action curing resins described in the foregoing can also be used.
- those having the same constitution as in the first embodiment dispersed in a dispersion medium can be printed by the screen printing device 21 .
- the thermosetting resin coating device 46 can be omitted.
- the method for forming the spacer not only can be used in the first embodiment, but also can be used instead of the method where the spacer particles are directly fixed on the first flat substrate 50 a as in the second embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment
- the seventh embodiment is a modified example of the sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 10 , an ultraviolet ray curing rain coating device 40 , an exposing device 42 and a unexposed resin removing device 44 are provided instead of the screen printing device 21 and the heating device 23 .
- an ultraviolet ray curing resin layer is coated on a first flat substrate 50 a to a thickness of about 100 ⁇ m by the ultraviolet ray curing resin coating device 40 and is exposed to a lattice configuration, in which lattice units of 100 ⁇ m ⁇ 100 ⁇ m are divided by partitions having a width of 10 ⁇ m by the exposure device 42 .
- the ultraviolet ray curing resin on the non-exposure region is removed by the unexposed resin removing device 44 , so as to form the first flat substrate 50 a having a spacer of a lattice configuration having lattice units of 100 ⁇ m ⁇ 100 ⁇ m formed on the surface thereof.
- this method for forming the spacer can be used instead of the method of fixing the spacer particles directly on the first flat substrate 50 a as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment.
- the eighth embodiment is a modified example of the sixth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 11 , an abrasion device 25 is provided instead of the screen printing device 21 and the heating device 23 .
- the abrasion device 25 has an ultraviolet laser and abrades the surface of a first flat substrate 50 a supplied from a film roller 50 to depth of about 100 ⁇ m by the ultraviolet laser to form a lattice having lattice units of 100 ⁇ m ⁇ 100 ⁇ m divided by partitions having a width of 10 ⁇ m.
- the first flat substrate 50 a having on the surface thereof the spacer of a lattice configuration having lattice units of 100 ⁇ m ⁇ 100 ⁇ m is obtained.
- the process is advantageous since the spacer can be conveniently formed with good precision.
- the thickness of the first flat substrate 502 is determined with consideration of the thickness for forming the spacer.
- a flat substrate formed of PET (polyethylene terephthalate) having a thickness of 150 ⁇ m wound to a roller is used as a first film roller 50 .
- this method for forming the spacer can be used instead of the method of fixing the spacer particles directly on the first flu substrate 50 a as in the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the fourth embodiment and the fifth embodiment.
- the ninth embodiment is a modified example of the sixth embodiment, and a flat substrate 51 a having a spacer is wound to a roll form, which is used as a fit film roller 51 .
- the flat substrate 51 a having a spacer can be formed by separately conducting the step of forming the spacer in the first to eighth embodiments, and may be formed in the following manners.
- a mold 70 having a lattice having lace units of 100 ⁇ m ⁇ 100 ⁇ m and a depth of 100 ⁇ m divided by partitions having a width of 10 ⁇ m is manufactured by a discharge treatment, and after injecting a thermosetting resin or an action curing resin onto the mold, the substrate is formed by applying heat or an action, or in alternative, as shown in FIG. 13 , a dispersion having spacer particles dispersed therein is put in a case 72 having a flat substrate 5 a on the bottom surface thereof, followed by evaporating the solvent, so as to form the substrate.
- the particles containing insulating particles 54 having a thermoplastic resin layer 56 (or an action curing resin layer) on the surface thereof as described in the first embodiment are used as the spacer particles, and heat or the corresponding action is applied after evaporating the solvent, so as to fix the spacer particles on the flat substrate.
- the flat substrate 51 a having a spacer can be formed by a method shown in FIG. 14 , in which the insulating particles 54 described in the first embodiment am dispersed in a medium containing an adhesive which is discharged on the flat substrate to a lattice configuration by using a liquid spraying device, such as an ink jet recording device.
- a liquid spraying device such as an ink jet recording device.
- insulating particles 54 are supplied on the flat substrate by a particle supplying device 78 to adhere the insulating particles 54 to the adhesive, whereby a flat substrate 51 a having a spacer can be obtained.
- a solid transfer material such as an ink ribbon 82 having insulating particles 54 described in the first embodiment dispersed therein, is softened by a thermal head 80 to transfer on a flat substrate to a lattice configuration, so as to form a flat substrate 51 a having a spacer, or in alternative, as shown in FIG.
- insulating particles 54 are supplied to the flat substrate by a particle supplying device 78 until the ink is solidified, and the insulating particles 54 that are attached to the ink pattern are adhered by a pressing device to be compressed in the ink pattern, whereby a flat substrate 51 a having a spacer can be formed.
- a resin 86 (for which those described in the foregoing can be used) in a flowing state is dropped on a flat substrate to form a lattice pattern and then solidified, so as to form 3 flat substrate 51 a having a spacer.
- bar spacer members having a thermoplastic resin layer or an action curing resin layer on the surface thereof, or bar spacer members formed of a thermoplastic resin or an action curing resin are arranged in parallel on a flat substrate, and they are fixed on the flat substrate by applying heat or the corresponding action, whereby a flat substrate 51 a having a spacer can be formed.
- the thus resulting flat substrate 51 a having a spacer is wound into a roll form, which is set on a first roller shaft 22 in FIG. 19 .
- the manufacturing line shown in FIG. 19 is formed by removing the first electrostatic coating device 10 from the manufacturing line shown in the first embodiment, in which after uniformly coating the black particles 62 and the white particles 64 on the surface, the second flat substrate 52 a is superimposed, to form an image displaying medium having the colorant particles in a powder form uniformly filled between the first flat substrate 51 a and the second flat substrate 52 a.
- black particles 62 and the white particles 64 are supplied by an electrostatic recording method using an electrostatic recording device in the ninth embodiment, all the recording methods can be applied instead of the electrostatic recording method.
- the tenth embodiment is a modified example of the fifth embodiment, and as shown in FIG. 21 , instead of the first electrostatic coating device 10 , a mesh member 100 a supplied from a film roller 100 is adhered or fused by heating on a first flat substrate 50 a , so as to form a spacer.
- a transparent epoxy adhesive is coated by an adhesive coating device 102 on the first flat substrate 50 a supplied from a film roller 50 .
- the mesh member 10 a supplied from the film roller 100 is adhered on the first flat substrate 50 a .
- colorant particles 103 are dispersed on the mesh member 100 a by a powder dispersing device 17 .
- the dispersed colorant particles 103 are smoothened with a blade 18 to be coated on the mesh part of the mesh member 100 a . At this time, the colorant particles 103 attached on the convex parts of the mesh member 100 a are removed.
- a second flat substrate 52 a supplied from a film roller 52 is located with a transparent epoxy series adhesive by a second adhesive coating device 104 , and then the first flat substrate 50 a is superimposed thereto, followed by heating by a second fixing device 20 , so as to curt the adhesive.
- the colorant particles used heroin are formed by mixing white and black insulating particles, to which vibration is applied to electrostatically charge the particles.
- the colorant particles 103 are fluidized by previously applying an AC voltage between electrodes provided above and under the particles to unravel the colorant particles 103 that are solidified and unmovable, so as to form a good coating condition of the colorant particles 103 excellent in uniformity and mobility.
- the colorant particles 103 are attached corresponding to the image data by applying an electric field, so as to display an image.
- a combination shown in FIG. 22 can be used, which contains a first flat substrate 50 a formed of a glass substrate having plural ITO pixel electrodes 106 provided and a second flat substrate 52 a formed of a glass substrate having plural ITO electrodes 106 provided on the entire surface thereof.
- the colorant particles 103 are adhered corresponding to the image data by applying an electric field from the side of the flat substrate having the plural ITO pixel electrodes 106 provided, so as to display an image.
- a cell structure can be conveniently formed by using the mesh member as the spacer. Furthermore, it becomes possible to conveniently coat the colorant particles irrespective to the characteristics of the particles. It is also possible to coat plural kinds of particles mixed with each other.
- electrodes of a band form are arranged on a substrate, and after mating a mold thereon, a resin is injected between the substrate and the mold to cure the resin, whereby the electrodes art fixed and an insulating film is formed on the substrate at a time.
- ITO-deposited PET films 110 manufactured by Toray Corp.
- a transparent epoxy series adhesive 112 is coated on the arranged ITO electrodes as shown in FIG. 23 B. Thereafter, the adhesive is cured by heating, and then the upper ends and the lower ends of the PET films are released to form electrodes.
- a spacer having arbitrary unevenness can be formed of the transparent epoxy series adhesive as shown in FIG. 23 D.
- the ITO-deposited PET films 110 are also arranged on a second flat substrate 52 a , and after holding the upper ends and the lower ends of the PET films, the transparent epoxy series adhesive 112 is coated on the arranged ITO electrodes. Thereafter, the adhesive is cured by heating, and the upper ends and the lower ends are released to form electrodes.
- the coating step of the colorant particles 103 and the like steps are the same as those in the tenth embodiment, and the descriptions thereof are omitted.
- an adhesive a cell structure having matrix electrodes can be conveniently formed.
- the colorant particles 103 are adhered by applying an electric filed to display an image.
- a desire electrode pattern is formed by etching on a first flat substrate 50 a and a second flat substrate 52 a each formed of a glass substrate having an ITO electrode vapor-deposited thereon, and a mask 116 is placed on the first flat substrate 50 a , whereby the colorant particles 103 are not coated on the regions other than the necessary regions, as shown in FIG. 24 .
- the colorant particles 103 are placed on the screen mesh by a dry screen coating device 118 and smoothened by a blade 18 , so as to uniformly coat the colorant particles.
- the mask 116 is removed by a mask removing device not shown in the figure, and after placing a spacer member 120 having an epoxy series adhesive coated on both surfaces, the second flat substrate is superimposed and adhered.
- the other constitutional components of the twelfth embodiment are the same as those in the tenth embodiment, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
- the first flat substrate 50 a and the second flat substrate 52 a each is a flat substrate having plural ITO pixel electrodes 106 thereon as shown in FIG. 25 .
- the colorant particles can be attached corresponding to the image data by applying an electric field from the side of the flat substrate, on which the plural ITO electrodes are provided, so as to display an image.
- the colorant particles can be conveniently coated irrespective to the electric characteristics of the particles. Also, a plurality of particles can be mixed to be coated. Furthermore, by coating the coloring agent using a mask, the colorant particles can be prevented from being coated on unnecessary regions but the colorant particles 103 can be coated only on the necessary regions.
- the thirteenth embodiment is a modified example of the twelfth embodiment. As shown in FIG. 26 , a spray coating device (wet type) 122 is provided instead of the dry screen coating device 118 .
- the spray coating device 122 coats the colorant particles 103 dispersed in a dispersion medium is coated by spraying.
- Theater after completely evaporating the dispersion medium by heating in a vacuum drying chamber 124 at 100° C. for 30 minutes, the mask 116 is removed by a mask removing device not shown in the figure, and a spacer member 120 having an epoxy series adhesive coated on both surfaces is put thereon, followed by adhering a second flat substrate 52 a .
- the other constitutional components of the thirteenth embodiment are the same as those in twelfth embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
- the fourteenth embodiment is a modified example of the thirteenth embodiment.
- a powder spray coating device (dry type) 126 is provided instead of the spray coating device (wet type) 122 , and the colorant particles of white and black are suspended in a closed space by air flow caused by splaying, and then made descending on the substrate.
- the particles By using the colorant particles descending, the particles can be uniformly coated.
- the coating amount can be precisely controlled by adjusting the time of descending.
- the fifteenth embodiment is a modified example of the fourteenth embodiment.
- a liquid coating device 128 is provided for coating a volatile solvent, and a volatile solvent is previously coated by the liquid coating device 128 .
- the colorant particles of white and black are spray-coated thereon by a dry spray device 126 , to attach the particles on the part where the volatile liquid is coated. Thereafter, excess colorant particles are removed by air blowing using an air blow device 130 .
- a spacer member 120 having an epoxy series adhesive coated on both surfaces is placed thereon, and a second flat substrate 52 a is ad
- the excess colorant particles are removed by air blow, and then the volatile solvent is removed by drying, whereby the colorant particles can be coated only in the desire pattern.
- the substrate shown in FIG. 29 is manufactured.
- the other constitutional components of the fifteenth embodiment arm the same as those in fourteenth embodiment, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.
- a first flat substrate 50 a and a second flat substrate 52 a are in the form shown in FIG. 30 , i.e., they can be fixed to each other. They are manufactured by the following manner.
- An arbitrary unevenness pattern is formed on a frat flat substrate 50 a formed of an acrylic plate by a cutting machine, and an unevenness pattern that can be fixed to 52 a by using a cutting machine. That is, the unevenness patterns arm formed in such a manner that the convex part of the first flat substrate 50 a meets the concave part of the second flat substrate 52 a , and the concave part of the first flat substrate 50 a meets the convex part of the second flat substrate 52 a .
- the unevenness pattern can be formed not only by cutting but also by using a mold, UV curing or laser abrasion.
- Colorant particles 103 are dispersed on the unevenness pattern of the first flat substrate 50 a .
- the dispersed colorant particles 103 are uniformly smoothened by a squeegee and coated in the concave parts of the unevenness pattern as shown in FIG. 30 . Then, the unevenness pattern of the first substrate and the unevenness pattern of the second substrate are superimposed as shown in FIG. 30 .
- an elastic material is used as a spacer member 120 as shown in FIGS. 31A and 31B , or in alternative, an elastic material is used as an adhesive 132 for a spacer as shown in FIGS. 32A and 32B .
- the spacer member 120 Upon using an elastic material as the spacer member 120 , even when a force is applied in the horizontal direction (direction A in the figure) as shown in FIG. 31A , or even when a force is applied vertical direction (direction B in the figure) as shown in FIG. 31B , the spacer member 120 expands and contracts to prevent the adhesive from peeling.
- the adhesive 132 expands and contracts to prevent the adhesive from peeling.
- conductive particles and insulating particles can be used.
- the conductive particles can achieve charge transfer by contacting with the substrate and has an advantage that the charge can be stably maintained. Therefore, the use of conductive particles is preferred since the stability of the particles upon repeated use is improved.
- the insulating particles can have a charge distribution by friction with the particles of the same kind or with the particles of different kinds, which can be driven by an electric field.
- Examples of a material that achieve charge transfer by contacting with the substrate include carbon black, metallic particles, such as nickel, silver, gold and tin, and particles having these materials coated thereon or contained therein.
- examples thereof include conductive particles having a true spherical form containing fine particles made with a crosslinked copolymer containing divinylbenzene as a main component having nickel electroless plating on the surface thereof (Micropearl NI, a trade name, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.), and conductive particles having a true spherical form further subjected to displacement plating with gold (Micropearl AU, a trade name, manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.).
- examples include conductive particles having a true spherical form of amorphous carbon obtained through carbonization by baking a thermosetting phenol resin (Univex GCP, H-Type, a trade name, manufactured by Unitika Ltd., volume resistivity: ⁇ 10 ⁇ 2 ⁇ cm), conductive particles having a true spherical form further coated with a metal, such as gold and silver (Univex GCP Conductive Particles, a trade name, manufactured by Unitika Ltd., volume resistivity: ⁇ 10 ⁇ 4 ⁇ cm), conductive particles having a true spherical form containing oxide fine particles having a true spherical form of silica or alumina having Ag and tin oxide coated on the surface thereof (Admafine, a trade name, manufactured by Admatechs Co., Ltd.), and particles containing mother particles of various materials, such as a styrene resin, an acrylic resin, a phenol resin, a silicone resin and glass, having conductive fine particles attached
- the insulating particles are not limited to those described in the foregoing, but the following materials can be used. The following materials can also be used in the embodiments described later.
- Examples of the insulating white particles include crosslinked polymethyl methacrylate spherical fine particles containing titanium oxide (MBX-White manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.), spherical particles of crosslinked polymethyl methacrylate (Chemisnow MX manufactured by Soken Chemical Co., Ltd.), fine particles of polytetrafluoroethylene (Lubron L manufactured by Daikin Industries. Ltd. and SST-2 manufactured by Shamrock Technologies Inc.), fine particles of carbon fluoride (CF-100 manufactured by Nippon Carbon Co., Ltd. and CFGL and CFGM manufactured by Daikin Industries, Ltd.), silicone resin fine particles (Tospearl manufactured by Toshiba Silicones Co.
- Examples of the insulating black particles include particles having a true spherical form of a crosslinked copolymer containing divinylbenzene as a main component (Micropearl BB and Micropearl BBP manufactured by Sekisui Chemical Co., Ltd.) and spherical fine particles of crosslinked polymethyl methacrylate (MBX Black manufactured by Sekisui Plastics Co., Ltd.).
- Examples of the black conductive panicles include amorphous carbon fine particles formed by baking phenol rein particles (Univex GCP manufactured by Unitika Ltd.) and spherical fine particles of carbon and graphite (Nicabeads ICB, Nicabeads MC and Nicabeads PC manufactured by Nippon Carbon Co. Ltd.).
- the invention exhibits an effect that a display element in the form of powder can be uniformly filled between facing substrates.
Abstract
Description
Claims (26)
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JP2000162356A JP2001092388A (en) | 1999-07-21 | 2000-05-31 | Method of manufacturing image display medium |
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US20110315032A1 (en) * | 2010-06-25 | 2011-12-29 | E Ink Holdings Inc. | Transfer print structure and the manufacturing method thereof |
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